CENTER SQUARE, MORGAN SWEENEY

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bipartisan bill backed by Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger that boosts the trucking industry with its significant shortage of drivers and veterans looking for a post-military career.  

Under current law, veterans cannot use their GI benefits to pay for courses to obtain their commercial driver’s licenses at new branches of educational institutions. For example, if a trucking school expanded and opened a second location, any CDL courses it provided would not be eligible for GI benefits for its first two years.

The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act exempts new branches whose primary facility has already been approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and state regulators for GI benefits. State and veterans’ department rules governing curriculum standards will still apply.

“Veterans who want to hit the road and enter the trucking workforce should not be met with arbitrary wait times and burdensome red tape,” Spanberger said in a statement. 

The bill was led by U.S. Reps. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., and Chris Pappas, D-N.H., but Spanberger – running for governor – was one of its original cosponsors. 

The legislation should be particularly helpful in Virginia, which boasts a large military population.

“Virginia has the fastest-growing veteran labor force in the United States, and the trucking industry offers them high-paying jobs when they leave military service,” said Dale Bennett, president and CEO of the Virginia Trucking Association.

Jerome Redmond, chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, was also glad to see the legislation pass.

“Because of their extensive training, exceptional professionalism, and mission-focused approach, veterans are ideal candidates to join the trucking workforce,” Redmond said. “The relief provided under this bipartisan proposal will give veterans additional choices when seeking out professional truck driving careers.”